You don't take a photograph, you make it.

Ansel Adams

Read the manual. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.

See backside of handout for a tip.

How to get a sharp image…

Hold the camera properly, squeeze the shutter instead of stabbing it, tuck in your elbows.

Hold it steady!

Horizontal/Vertical (landscape/portrait)

Hold your camera in the horizontal or vertical position?

And get close!

Tip #1 Fill the Frame

Get closer or crop close.

Simplicity is huge.

Get closer!

Crop to improve the

the content.

Before cropping & after

Before cropping & after

There are times when you need to step back and not crop in close.

But notice that a few steps to the left created a triangle for the eye to follow in the composition.

Check your background before shooting One Solution: Take the clutter out by change your shooting angle

If you have distracting elements in the background of a shot but

can’t move your subject, one strategy is to move yourself and shoot from a new angle. This might mean rotating around your subject but could also include getting down low to make the sky the background or even getting up high and shooting down onto

your subject to make the background the ground.

Background beware!

Before pushing the button, eliminate distractions.

Eliminate clutter.

Fill the frame but

simplify the background

Fill the frame and

contrast the background

Before After

Subjects need a

sense of place.

Tip #2: For most photos… Turn off the flash

Use natural lighting when possible. Use ISO 400 or 800.

Find something steady: a rock, tree or chair. Click on exhale.

Keep your finger on shutter release to prevent shaking camera.

Except in bright sun where you can:

1. Put your subject with sun behind and use a flash to fill in the silhouette.

2. Shoot the subject in the shade.

Turn off the flash!

Use natural light.

There are

times when you

should turn the

flash back on (for fill).

Tip #3: Dramatic camera angle Move from eye level to their level.

Tip #4: Rule of Thirds instead of a bullseye composition.

Even if you want your subject centered, you can take advantage of the rule.

Tip #5: Horizon Lines in Landscapes

Give a special sky the upper 2/3rds.

Earth and water take top 2/3rds. Notice placement of boulders.

Horizontal and diagonal lines

#6: Active Space

You can edit exposure,

contrast, or color

changes at the computer.

“Candid” means…

the subject is photographed

without his or her knowing or having the opportunity to prepare or pose.

Some photographers take reality... and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit.

Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them

is an instrument of love and revelation.

Ansel Adams